TURNING POINTS - ORAL HISTORY
Without oral history, we would not be able to appreciate and understand the events of the past and the impact the events have on the present. While it is often difficult for young historians to find suitable subjects for oral history on historical topics, that challenge becomes much easier the closer we come to the 21st century. In Unit 8, all students will be conducting some sort of oral history interview concerning an event, era, idea, or issue from our final unit.
Instructions:
You may collaborate with one or more individuals on this assignment, as long as everyone does the work!
Find a person to interview and a topic of discussion.
Talk to your families, friends, and teachers for ideas. The person should be someone you know or have a connection to, but you do not need to be related to them. More than one subject on the same topic would be awesome!
Research and write a brief summary of the topic of discussion (the historical event, issue, or idea). The topic can be specific (the Detroit Riot of 1967) or general (memories of the Civil Rights Movement). You obviously need to have background information. Your research must include at least two cited sources. The historical New York Times or the archives of Time Magazine are great resources!
Develop 7-10 interview questions for the subject. Don't ask just what happened, but find out their reactions, memories, etc.
Conduct the interview. If possible, record the interview (audio or video). You can embed it on your space. It's not necessary, but very cool ...
Post the questions and interview responses on your Unit 8 Online ISNs.
On your wiki, discuss your reaction to the interview, and include any relevant pictures, artifacts, and links.
Start thinking about this assignment by choosing partners (if you want) and talking to your parents about who you can interview. Your parents might make great subjects!
Notes:
World war two and the Korean war, two a great war in U.S. history. World War Two was thought of being started because of the way world war one ended. This was Germany getting a lot taken away from them because of what they did. In this war it killed more people, cost more money, damaged more property, affected more people, and caused more far-reaching changes in nearly every country than any other war in history.Between September 1939 and September 1945 there was estimated that more than 55 million people perished. Our nation was cut in half when it came to entering the war and the government did not know what to do. Finally when we entered there was a draft put out that got many people into the force. Many did not like the draft because they thought the war was not right; this is how my grandfather got in.
Korean war was another big war. There was also a draft; the draft for the Korean War netted 1,569,141 men. For the entire era, which extended 18 months beyond the cease fire, draftees made up 30% of all those who served then. Some 83,858 Marines were drafted between August 1951 and October 1952. At the peak in January 1952, 12,220 leathernecks entered the Corps via ther Selective Service system. First the fighting began because Korea was split with what power should rule their land. People started fighting and it got worse. In the end fighting ended with the signing of an armistice on July 27, 1953. After three long years on fighting, there was no victor and peace was never declared. (more Info on Korea)
Question
1. How did you get involve with war
WW2: Drafted would not have done it if I had the choice.
Korean: already in one do it again.
2. What was your emotion at the end of the war
World War Two: Felt happy that it was finally over, but felt that if he is still
kicking he could keep fighting and that it was to short. Still he is
so happy that gets to come back to his family and back to real
food.
Korean: happy it was over.
3. Did you ever write home to your family
All the time they always wanted to know about what I was doing and they
told me the latest news at home. It was a brake from a long day to
read a piece of home.
4. What did you do in your free time
Played games, it was here were I learned to play cards. What I did
most was sleep I got tired very quickly and I never thought I got
enough, just the drills we ran and what went through are mind was keeping
us up.
5. What can you remember about the war that you will never forget.
Not really about the war but one day some of my bodies and me got a car
and started to drive down a very long road when we saw a hitchhiker on
the side of the road we decided to stop and ask the guy a question we
said
"what are you doing"
"trying to get a ride to the end of this road"
Aircraft spotter on the roof of a building in London during World War II. The German Luftwaffe launched an air campaign known as the Battle of Britain in the summer of 1940 in an attempt to destroy the Royal Air Force and pave the way for invading Great Britain.
"then I can guess your tired of walking"
" yes "
" then maybe you should start running"
then we drove off laughing, when we went were we where going then
turned around on our way back we saw the same guy because there are
not many cars that drive down this road. We could tell he recognized us
because the man was yelling.
( my grandpa has told me this story many of times he likes it very much)
I also remember that every time some person helped me I would ask the man if he wanted a tip.
Instead of money it would be a tip of words.
6. What a tipical day like at camp
5 in mourning ends at 9 at night training every hour learning every thing
very long and very tiring; fell down every night asleep
Food- not like at home and the food is healthy but look not so good
Hardest part being treating you like you have no mind to think with.
Blind obedeanse
" stop thinking meinecke that is for horses they have bigger heads. "
Do not ask just go
7. What did you feel like during the war
I felt worried that I could die and scared for my friend that have
died already. When I was in Germany all my friends where sent somewhere else, but
I stayed. When I got news of the group with my friends; they all where killed in battle and I was still
alive.
8. What is one words that comes to you when you think back to the war.
Dangerous
Your are monkeying around when you are in training and then many get killed in the
Map of World War 2
real deal.
9. Do you still get recognized as someone who was in the war.
Yes I get a few hundred dollar each month, for being in it. I do not
think I should get it because I do not need it and there so many
others out there that could use it more then I do. Also I can be put in
Arlington National Cemetery when I die.
10. What was your position
Korean: Ran the warehouse watching all the big guns. Was a very important job and was very tiring.
World War Two: Put up telephone lines. Once climbing a pole got scared and was stuck up there and was yelled at.
Reaction:
This was something that got me very interested in my grandfather. I know he is a great guy and I always try to model my life on his. I loved that even though the war was a bad thing, he found fun in the subject. I know it was hard to remember the wars, but he did a great job and has a good heart in the matter. I love my grandfather and it is a great thing to learn about his past and where most of his story come from.
Without oral history, we would not be able to appreciate and understand the events of the past and the impact the events have on the present. While it is often difficult for young historians to find suitable subjects for oral history on historical topics, that challenge becomes much easier the closer we come to the 21st century. In Unit 8, all students will be conducting some sort of oral history interview concerning an event, era, idea, or issue from our final unit.
Instructions:
Start thinking about this assignment by choosing partners (if you want) and talking to your parents about who you can interview. Your parents might make great subjects!
Notes:
World war two and the Korean war, two a great war in U.S. history. World War Two was thought of being started because of the way world war one ended. This was Germany getting a lot taken away from them because of what they did. In this war it killed more people, cost more money, damaged more property, affected more people, and caused more far-reaching changes in nearly every country than any other war in history.Between September 1939 and September 1945 there was estimated that more than 55 million people perished. Our nation was cut in half when it came to entering the war and the government did not know what to do. Finally when we entered there was a draft put out that got many people into the force. Many did not like the draft because they thought the war was not right; this is how my grandfather got in.
Korean war was another big war. There was also a draft; the draft for the Korean War netted 1,569,141 men. For the entire era, which extended 18 months beyond the cease fire, draftees made up 30% of all those who served then. Some 83,858 Marines were drafted between August 1951 and October 1952. At the peak in January 1952, 12,220 leathernecks entered the Corps via ther Selective Service system. First the fighting began because Korea was split with what power should rule their land. People started fighting and it got worse. In the end fighting ended with the signing of an armistice on July 27, 1953. After three long years on fighting, there was no victor and peace was never declared. (more Info on Korea)
"World War II." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 May 2010. <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.
"War in Korea (Overview)." American History. ABC-CLIO, 2010. Web. 31 May 2010. <http://www.americanhistory.abc-clio.com>.
Question
1. How did you get involve with war
WW2: Drafted would not have done it if I had the choice.
Korean: already in one do it again.
2. What was your emotion at the end of the war
World War Two: Felt happy that it was finally over, but felt that if he is still
kicking he could keep fighting and that it was to short. Still he is
so happy that gets to come back to his family and back to real
food.
Korean: happy it was over.
3. Did you ever write home to your family
All the time they always wanted to know about what I was doing and they
told me the latest news at home. It was a brake from a long day to
read a piece of home.
4. What did you do in your free time
Played games, it was here were I learned to play cards. What I did
most was sleep I got tired very quickly and I never thought I got
enough, just the drills we ran and what went through are mind was keeping
us up.
5. What can you remember about the war that you will never forget.
Not really about the war but one day some of my bodies and me got a car
and started to drive down a very long road when we saw a hitchhiker on
the side of the road we decided to stop and ask the guy a question we
said
"what are you doing"
"trying to get a ride to the end of this road"
"then I can guess your tired of walking"
" yes "
" then maybe you should start running"
then we drove off laughing, when we went were we where going then
turned around on our way back we saw the same guy because there are
not many cars that drive down this road. We could tell he recognized us
because the man was yelling.
( my grandpa has told me this story many of times he likes it very much)
I also remember that every time some person helped me I would ask the man if he wanted a tip.
Instead of money it would be a tip of words.
6. What a tipical day like at camp
5 in mourning ends at 9 at night training every hour learning every thing
very long and very tiring; fell down every night asleep
Food- not like at home and the food is healthy but look not so good
Hardest part being treating you like you have no mind to think with.
Blind obedeanse
" stop thinking meinecke that is for horses they have bigger heads. "
Do not ask just go
7. What did you feel like during the war
I felt worried that I could die and scared for my friend that have
died already. When I was in Germany all my friends where sent somewhere else, but
I stayed. When I got news of the group with my friends; they all where killed in battle and I was still
alive.
8. What is one words that comes to you when you think back to the war.
Dangerous
Your are monkeying around when you are in training and then many get killed in the
real deal.
9. Do you still get recognized as someone who was in the war.
Yes I get a few hundred dollar each month, for being in it. I do not
think I should get it because I do not need it and there so many
others out there that could use it more then I do. Also I can be put in
Arlington National Cemetery when I die.
10. What was your position
Korean: Ran the warehouse watching all the big guns. Was a very important job and was very tiring.
World War Two: Put up telephone lines. Once climbing a pole got scared and was stuck up there and was yelled at.
Reaction:
This was something that got me very interested in my grandfather. I know he is a great guy and I always try to model my life on his. I loved that even though the war was a bad thing, he found fun in the subject. I know it was hard to remember the wars, but he did a great job and has a good heart in the matter. I love my grandfather and it is a great thing to learn about his past and where most of his story come from.
Other links:
U.S. army